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Abstract:

An alert analyzing apparatus includes: a storage unit that stores a first
value and a preset second value in association with time-of-day
information, the first value fluctuating as time elapses; an alert output
unit that outputs an alert and time-of-day information in a case in which
the first value diverges from the second value in a certain time of day;
a comment accepting unit that accepts an input of a comment on the alert
thus output, and stores the comment in association with the time-of-day
information; and a classification unit that classifies a plurality of
time zones into any one of predetermined segments, and stores the comment
associated with the time zone thus classified, in association with each
of the segments, based on a fluctuation phase of the first value.

Claims:

1. An alert analyzing apparatus, comprising: a storage unit that stores a
first value and a preset second value in association with time-of-day
information, the first value fluctuating as time elapses; an alert output
unit that outputs an alert and time-of-day information in a case in which
the first value diverges from the second value in a certain time of day;
a comment accepting unit that accepts an input of a comment on the alert
that is output from the alert output unit, and stores the comment in
association with the time-of-day information; and a classification unit
that classifies a plurality of time zones into any one of predetermined
segments, and stores the comment associated with the time zone thus
classified, in association with each of the segments, based on a
fluctuation phase of the first value.

2. The alert analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first
value and the second value include at least any one of traffic, a number
of operators, or cost, at a contact center.

3. The alert analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
comment accepting unit accepts an input of a comment including a cause
of, or a countermeasure against, divergence between the first value and
the second value.

4. The alert analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a graphic chart display unit that displays a graphic chart
showing how the first value fluctuates as time elapses; and an alert
display unit that displays the alert and the comment in association with
the graphic chart.

5. The alert analyzing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the alert
display unit determines a manner of displaying the alert and the comment,
in accordance with an amount of divergence between the first value and
the second value.

6. The alert analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
segments include at least a rising trend phase, a sharply rising phase, a
falling trend phase, and a sharply falling phase.

7. The alert analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
classification unit determines a segment to classify the time zones into,
based on an amount of fluctuation of the first value per elapsed time
period.

8. An alert analyzing method, causing a computer to execute: a storing
step of storing a first value and a preset second value in association
with time-of-day information, the first value fluctuating as time
elapses; an alert outputting step of outputting an alert and time-of-day
information in a case in which the first value diverges from the second
value in a certain time of day; a comment accepting step of accepting an
input of a comment on the alert that is output in the alert outputting
step, and storing the comment in association with the time-of-day
information; and a classifying step of classifying a plurality of time
zones into any one of predetermined segments, and storing the comment
associated with the time zone thus classified, in association with each
of the segments, based on a fluctuation phase of the first value.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing an alert analyzing
program for causing a computer to execute: a storing step of storing a
first value and a preset second value in association with time-of-day
information, the first value fluctuating as time elapses; an alert
outputting step of outputting an alert and time-of-day information in a
case in which the first value diverges from the second value in a certain
time of day; a comment accepting step of accepting an input of a comment
on the alert that is output in the alert outputting step, and storing the
comment in association with the time-of-day information; and a
classifying step of classifying a plurality of time zones into any one of
predetermined segments, and storing the comment associated with the time
zone thus classified, in association with each of the segments, based on
a fluctuation phase of the first value.

Description:

[0001] This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority
from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-191469, filed on 2 Sep. 2011,
the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method and a
program, all of which analyze an alert in a case in which an actual value
diverges from a predicted value.

[0004] 2. Related Art

[0005] Conventionally, various computer systems are provided with a
function of outputting an alert for warning about abnormality of certain
monitoring data, in a case in which an actual value of the monitoring
data diverges from a normal value or a predicted value.

[0007] Information added to the alert information such as the analytical
information disclosed in Patent Document 1 is information extracted from
a monitoring object when detecting the alert. Therefore, based on the
alert information and the added information, a manager judges a cause of
abnormality when the alert was output, or a countermeasure against the
alert, or the like.

[0008] However, generally, since the manager analyzes a cause of, and
provides a countermeasure against, an individual alert, it has been
difficult to utilize the manager's know-how in the past for coping with
other alerts and improving the accuracy of predicting a condition that
would occur in the future. More specifically, in conventional alert
analyzing apparatuses, when the accuracy of prediction in the future is
improved by referring to alerts in the past, there has not been disclosed
a technique for outputting information of causal analyses and
countermeasures provided by a manager and the like, for an alert that
should be referred to. Furthermore, even in a case in which causal
analyses and countermeasures are provided by a manager and the like for
individual alerts, there has not been disclosed a technique for
outputting information of causal analyses and countermeasures provided by
the manager and the like for other alerts having common characteristics
serving as helpful information.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an alert analyzing
apparatus, an alert analyzing method, and an alert analyzing program, all
of which can efficiently provide the manager's know-how regarding
individual alerts, for later analyses.

[0010] According to the present invention, means as follows is provided
for solving the problems.

[0011] A first aspect of the present invention is an alert analyzing
apparatus including: a storage unit that stores a first value and a
preset second value in association with time-of-day information, the
first value fluctuating as time elapses; an alert output unit that
outputs an alert and time-of-day information in a case in which the first
value diverges from the second value in a certain time of day; a comment
accepting unit that accepts an input of a comment on the alert that is
output from the alert output unit, and stores the comment in association
with the time-of-day information; and a classification unit that
classifies a plurality of time zones into any one of predetermined
segments, and stores the comment associated with the time zone thus
classified, in association with each of the segments, based on a
fluctuation phase of the first value.

[0012] According to such a configuration, the alert analyzing apparatus
can accept a comment on each of the alerts, and classify the comment thus
accepted, based on each fluctuation phase of the first value being an
actual value. Therefore, since the alert analyzing apparatus can output
comments classified into each segment in response to a request from the
user, the manager's know-how that was input as comments on individual
alerts can be efficiently provided for later analyses.

[0013] A second aspect of the present invention is the alert analyzing
apparatus as recited in the first aspect, in which the first value and
the second value include at least any one of traffic, a number of
operators, or cost, at a contact center.

[0014] According to such a configuration, the alert analyzing apparatus
can provide a comment that is input for an alert for traffic, staff or
cost, based on divergence between the predicted value and the actual
value, the comment being classified into each fluctuation phase of the
actual value. Therefore, the user of the alert analyzing apparatus can
efficiently refer to such comments at a contact center, and utilize the
comments for improving the accuracy of the predicted value in a similar
phase, and analyzing a cause of, or providing a countermeasure against,
an alert in a similar phase.

[0015] A third aspect of the present invention is the alert analyzing
apparatus as recited in the first or second aspect, in which the comment
accepting unit accepts an input of a comment including a cause of, or a
countermeasure against, divergence between the first value and the second
value.

[0016] According to such a configuration, since the alert analyzing
apparatus accepts a comment including a cause of, or a countermeasure
against, an alert, the manager's know-how can be utilized for improving
the accuracy of the predicted value in a similar phase, and analyzing a
cause of, or providing a countermeasure against, divergence between the
predicted value and the actual value in a similar phase.

[0017] A fourth aspect of the present invention is the alert analyzing
apparatus as recited in any one of the first to third aspects, further
including: a graphic chart display unit that displays a graphic chart
showing how the first value fluctuates as time elapses; and an alert
display unit that displays the alert and the comment in association with
the graphic chart.

[0018] According to such a configuration, the alert analyzing apparatus
displays fluctuation of the first value that is the actual value as a
graphic chart, and displays the alert and the comment in association with
the graphic chart. Therefore, the user of the alert analyzing apparatus
can efficiently refer to and utilize the alert and the comment
corresponding to each fluctuation phase of the actual value.

[0019] A fifth aspect of the present invention is the alert analyzing
apparatus as recited in the fourth aspect, in which the alert display
unit determines a manner of displaying the alert and the comment, in
accordance with an amount of divergence between the first value and the
second value.

[0020] According to such a configuration, the alert analyzing apparatus
determines a manner of displaying the alert and the comment in accordance
with an amount of divergence between the predicted value and the actual
value, and therefore can indicate importance of the alert by, for
example, changing an icon color or a display font for the alert.

[0021] A sixth aspect of the present invention is the alert analyzing
apparatus as recited in any one of the first to fifth aspects, in which
the segments include at least a rising trend phase, a sharply rising
phase, a falling trend phase, and a sharply falling phase.

[0022] According to such a configuration, based on characteristics of
fluctuation of the first value, the alert analyzing apparatus can
classify the corresponding alerts and comments through classification of
the time zones into: the rising trend phase in which the first value
rises gently; the sharply rising phase in which the first value rises
sharply; the falling trend phase in which the first value falls gently;
and the sharply falling phase in which the first value falls sharply.

[0023] A seventh aspect of the present invention is the alert analyzing
apparatus as recited in any one of the first to sixth aspects, in which
the classification unit determines a segment to classify the time zones
into, based on an amount of fluctuation of the first value per elapsed
time period.

[0024] According to such a configuration, the alert analyzing apparatus
classifies time zones by segmenting characteristics of fluctuation, based
on an amount of fluctuation of the first value per elapsed time period,
and therefore can classify and provide alerts and comments automatically
not manually.

[0025] An eighth aspect of the present invention is an alert analyzing
method, causing a computer to execute: a storing step of storing a first
value and a preset second value in association with time-of-day
information, the first value fluctuating as time elapses; an alert
outputting step of outputting an alert and time-of-day information in a
case in which the first value diverges from the second value in a certain
time of day; a comment accepting step of accepting an input of a comment
on the alert that is output in the alert outputting step, and storing the
comment in association with the time-of-day information; and a
classifying step of classifying a plurality of time zones into any one of
predetermined segments, and storing the comment associated with the time
zone thus classified, in association with each of the segments, based on
a fluctuation phase of the first value.

[0026] According to such a configuration, effects similar to those of the
first aspect can be expected by causing the computer to execute the alert
analyzing method.

[0027] An ninth aspect of the present invention is an alert analyzing
program for causing a computer to execute: a storing step of storing a
first value and a preset second value in association with time-of-day
information, the first value fluctuating as time elapses; an alert
outputting step of outputting an alert and time-of-day information in a
case in which the first value diverges from the second value in a certain
time of day; a comment accepting step of accepting an input of a comment
on the alert that is output in the alert outputting step, and storing the
comment in association with the time-of-day information; and a
classifying step of classifying a plurality of time zones into any one of
predetermined segments, and storing the comment associated with the time
zone thus classified, in association with each of the segments, based on
a fluctuation phase of the first value.

[0028] According to such a configuration, effects similar to those of the
first aspect can be expected by causing the computer to execute the alert
analyzing program.

[0029] According to the present invention, the manager's know-how
regarding individual alerts can be efficiently provided for later
analyses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an
alert analyzing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
invention;

[0031]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an annual display screen
of alerts according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed display screen
of alerts according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a
graphic chart and an alert regarding first values according to the
embodiment of the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing alert output processing according to
the embodiment of the present invention;

[0035]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing comment accepting processing
according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

[0036] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing classification processing according
to the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] Descriptions are hereinafter provided for an example of an
embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] An alert analyzing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment
is an apparatus that accumulates auxiliary data for analyzing an alert
later, such an alert is output in a case in which an actually monitored
first value (for example, an actual value) diverges from (i.e. is larger
or smaller by a predetermined level than) a preset second value (for
example, a predicted value or a target value), and such values represent
monitoring data such as traffic, a number of operators, or cost, at a
contact center.

[0039] Here, the alert is output in cases such as, for example, a case in
which the actual value (the first value) is increased or decreased by
more than a predetermined level from the predicted value (the second
value) of the traffic, a case in which the expected cost (the first
value) exceeds the target cost (the second value), or a case in which the
number of assigned staff (the first value) is smaller than the number of
required staff (the second value).

[0040]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the
alert analyzing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0041] The alert analyzing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a
storage unit 20, a communication unit 30, an input unit 40, and an output
unit 50.

[0042] The control unit 10 controls the entirety of the alert analyzing
apparatus 1, and appropriately reads and executes various programs stored
in the storage unit 20, thereby collaborating with the aforementioned
hardware units, and implementing various functions according to the
present embodiment. The control unit 10 may be a central processing unit
(CPU). Functions of each part provided to the control unit 10 will be
described later.

[0043] The storage unit 20 is a storage area that stores various programs
and a variety of data for causing a group of hardware units to function
as the alert analyzing apparatus 1, in which the storage unit 20 may be a
hard disk drive (HDD). More specifically, the storage unit 20 stores a
program (an alert analyzing program) that is executed by the control unit
10 to implement various functions of the present embodiment.

[0044] The storage unit 20 stores the first value and the preset second
value in association with time-of-day information, the first value
fluctuating as the time elapses. The storage unit 20 further stores alert
information and a comment corresponding thereto, which will be described
later.

[0045] The communication unit 30 is a network adapter used by the alert
analyzing apparatus 1 to transmit and receive data to and from other
apparatuses. The communication unit 30 acquires the first value, such as
various actual values, from a PBX or CTI server through a network, and
provides the first value to the control unit 10.

[0046] The input unit 40 is an interface device that accepts an input of
an instruction by a user into the alert analyzing apparatus 1. The input
unit 40 is configured by, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch
screen, and the like.

[0047] The output unit 50 includes a display unit that displays a screen
for accepting an input of data from the user, and displays a screen for
showing results of processing by the alert analyzing apparatus 1. The
output unit 50 may also include a display unit such as a cathode ray tube
(CRT) display or a liquid crystal display (LCD), as well as other various
output units such as a printer.

[0048] Next, detailed descriptions are provided for functions of the
control unit 10.

[0049] The control unit 10 includes a divergence detection unit 11, an
alert output unit 12, a comment accepting unit 13, a classification unit
14, a graphic chart display unit 15, and an alert display unit 16. Each
of those units is a functional block that is implemented by executing the
alert analyzing program.

[0051] In a case in which the divergence detection unit 11 detects
divergence between the first value and the second value in a certain time
of day, the alert output unit 12 outputs alert information together with
information indicating the time of day. The alert information is stored
into the storage unit 20, and is output by the output unit 50 immediately
or at predetermined timing, or in response to a request from the user.

[0052] For each of the alert information that is output by the alert
output unit 12, the comment accepting unit 13 accepts an input of a
comment including a cause of, or a countermeasure against, the divergence
between the first value and the second value, and stores the comment into
the storage unit 20 in association with the time-of-day information.

[0053] Based on a fluctuation phase of the first value, the classification
unit 14 classifies a plurality of time zones into any one of
predetermined segments, and stores a comment associated with the time
zone thus classified, in association with each of the segments.

[0054] Here, segments include at least a rising trend phase, a sharply
rising phase, a falling trend phase, and a sharply falling phase, and the
classification unit 14 determines a segment to classify time zones into,
based on an amount of fluctuation of the first value per elapsed time
period.

[0055] The graphic chart display unit 15 displays a graphic chart showing
how the first value fluctuates as the time elapses. In addition to the
first value, the graphic chart display unit 15 may also display how the
second value fluctuates as compared with the first value.

[0056] The alert display unit 16 displays an alert and a comment in
association with a graphic chart. At this time, the alert display unit 16
determines a manner of displaying the alert and the comment, in
accordance with an amount of divergence between the first value and the
second value. More specifically, for example, the alert display unit 16
reports importance of the alert by changing a display color in accordance
with an amount of divergence.

[0057]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an annual display screen
of alerts that are output in the alert analyzing apparatus 1 according to
the present embodiment.

[0058] In the present example, presence or absence of alerts for traffic,
cost and staff is displayed so as to be distinguished by icon colors,
together with the determined status of schedules, for each campaign
(task) on a monthly basis. For example, with regard to the schedule for
seminars, there is an alert (61) for staff in April; there is no alert in
May; and there are alerts (62, 63 and 64) of all three types in June.

[0059] Based on importance of an alert in accordance with an amount of
divergence, a manner of displaying an icon, such as a color or a shape
thereof, may be selected from a plurality of options. When an icon 65 is
clicked, details of alerts for seminars in June are displayed.

[0060]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a detailed display screen
of alerts that are output in the alert analyzing apparatus 1 according to
the present embodiment.

[0061] In the present example, similarly to the screen example shown in
FIG. 2, presence or absence of alerts for seminars in June is displayed
so as to be distinguished by icon colors, on a daily basis on the
calendar.

[0062] Details of alerts for traffic, cost and staff are listed on a daily
basis.

[0063] For example, alerts for traffic are output such that the actual
traffic (the first value) is increased from the predicted traffic (the
second value), the response rate (the first value) predicted from the
number of assigned staff is lower than the target response rate (the
second value), and the like.

[0064] Alerts for cost are output such that the expected cost (the first
value) exceeds the target cost (the second value) on a daily basis, the
total amount of the expected cost (the first value) exceeds the total
amount of the target cost (the second value) on a bimonthly basis, and
the like.

[0065] Alerts for staff are output such that the number of assigned staff
(the first value) is smaller than the number of required staff (the
second value), and the like.

[0066] An icon 71 for inputting a comment is disposed beside each alert,
and when the icon 71 is clicked, the alert analyzing apparatus 1 accepts
an input of a comment from the user.

[0067]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a
graphic chart and an alert regarding the first values that are output in
the alert analyzing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0068] In the present example, the first values of traffic, staff and cost
are graphed in relation to the elapsed time period. In accordance with
the amount of fluctuation, the first values are segmented into: a rising
trend phase 81, a sharply rising phase 82, a falling trend phase 83, and
sharply falling phase 84, in which a comment thus input is associated
with each segment.

[0069] When the user selects a point in the graphic chart of the first
values by clicking or the like, a comment corresponding to the point is
displayed. A point (time of day) of occurrence of an alert may be
indicated by displaying an icon superimposed with the point in the
graphic chart, changing a type of line or a color of the point in the
graphic chart, or doing the like.

[0070]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing alert output processing in the alert
analyzing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0071] The present processing is executed each time the first value
corresponding to the second value is acquired. It is assumed that the
second value is preset and stored in the storage unit 20.

[0072] In Step S1, the control unit 10 acquires the first value of
traffic, cost and staff, and stores the first value into the storage unit
20 in association with time-of-day information.

[0073] In Step S2, the control unit 10 (the divergence detection unit 11)
compares the first value stored in Step S1 with the second value
corresponding thereto, and determines whether there is divergence of more
than a predetermined level. In a case in which the determination is YES,
the processing advances to Step S3, and in a case in which the
determination is NO, the processing is terminated.

[0074] In Step S3, the control unit 10 (the alert output unit 12) stores
information of the divergence determined in Step S2 as an alert into the
storage unit 20, in association with the time-of-day information.

[0075]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing comment accepting processing in the
alert analyzing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0076] The present processing is executed when an alert is displayed.

[0077] In Step S11, the control unit 10 reads the alerts stored in the
alert output processing (FIG. 5), and displays a list of the alerts (for
example, FIG. 3) via the output unit 50.

[0078] In Step S12, the control unit 10 determines whether selection
(clicking) of an icon for inputting a comment by the user is accepted,
from the list of the alerts displayed in Step S11. In a case in which the
determination is YES, the processing advances to Step S13, and in a case
in which the determination is NO, the processing returns to Step S12 and
waits for an input of selection.

[0079] In Step S13, the control unit 10 (the comment accepting unit 13)
accepts an input of a comment including information of a cause of, or a
countermeasure against, the alert selected in Step S12. The control unit
10 stores the comment thus accepted into the storage unit 20, in
association with the time-of-day information of occurrence of the alert.

[0080] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing classification processing in the
alert analyzing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

[0081] The present processing is executed at predetermined timing, such as
in a periodic manner or when the number of stored comments reaches a
predetermined number.

[0082] In Step S21, the control unit 10 reads the first value and the
comment stored in the storage unit 20.

[0083] In Step S22, based on chronological fluctuation rates of the first
value that was read in Step S21, the control unit 10 (the classification
unit 14) classifies the time zones including the first value into any one
of the plurality of segments such as the rising trend phase, the sharply
rising phase, the falling trend phase, and the sharply falling phase.

[0084] In Step S23, the control unit 10 (the classification unit 14)
associates each of the segments classified in Step S22 with a comment
corresponding to the time zone, and stores them into the storage unit 20.

[0085] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the alert
analyzing apparatus 1 can accept a comment on each alert, and classify
the comment thus accepted, based on each fluctuation phase of the first
value in terms of the actual value and the target value. Therefore, since
the alert analyzing apparatus 1 can output comments classified into each
segment in response to a request from the user, the manager's know-how
that is input as comments on individual alerts can be efficiently
provided for later analyses.

[0086] More specifically, the alert analyzing apparatus 1 can provide a
comment that is input for an alert for traffic, staff or cost, based on
divergence between the first value and the second value (the predicted
value and the actual value), the comment being classified into each
fluctuation phase of the first value (the actual value). Therefore, the
user of the alert analyzing apparatus 1 can efficiently refer to such
comments at a contact center, and utilize the comments for improving the
accuracy of the second value (the predicted value) in a similar phase,
and analyzing a cause of, or providing a countermeasure against, an alert
in a similar phase.

[0087] At this time, since the alert analyzing apparatus 1 accepts a
comment including a cause of, or a countermeasure against, an alert, the
manager's know-how regarding individual alerts can be utilized for
improving the accuracy of the predicted value in a similar phase, and
analyzing a cause of, or providing a countermeasure against, divergence
between the predicted value and the actual value in a similar phase.

[0088] For example, in a case in which the accuracy of predicting a rising
trend phase or a sharply rising phase of traffic is low, a difference
analysis is facilitated in accordance with a causative event, such as for
a case of a printed advertisement in which a single peak occurs, and a
case of an Internet advertising in which a plurality of peaks
consecutively occur. Depending on a causative event, an analysis of
difference is facilitated for timing of transitioning from a certain
phase to a next phase, or an increasing/decreasing rate of an actual
value, etc.

[0089] Since the alert analyzing apparatus 1 displays fluctuation of the
first value (the actual value) in a graphic chart, and also displays an
alert and a comment in association with the graphic chart, the user of
the alert analyzing apparatus 1 can efficiently refer to and utilize the
alert and the comment corresponding to each fluctuation phase of the
first value.

[0090] At this time, the alert analyzing apparatus 1 determines a manner
of displaying the alert and the comment in accordance with an amount of
divergence between the first value and the second value (the predicted
value and the actual value), and therefore can indicate importance of the
alert by, for example, changing an icon color or a display font for the
alert.

[0091] Based on characteristics of fluctuation of the first value, the
alert analyzing apparatus 1 can classify the corresponding alerts and
comments through classification of the time zones into: the rising trend
phase in which the first value rises gently; the sharply rising phase in
which the first value rises sharply; the falling trend phase in which the
first value falls gently; and the sharply falling phase in which the
first value falls sharply.

[0092] At this time, the alert analyzing apparatus 1 classifies time zones
by segmenting the characteristics of fluctuation, based on an amount of
fluctuation of the first value per elapsed time period, and therefore can
classify and provide alerts and comments automatically not manually.

[0093] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described
above, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned
embodiment. The effects described in the embodiment merely list the most
preferable effects that arise from the present invention, and the effects
according to the present invention are not limited to those described in
the embodiment.

[0094] The alert analyzing apparatus 1 may be any of various information
processing apparatuses (computers) such as a server device or a personal
computer (PC), and each of the aforementioned functions is implemented by
software. In a case in which a function is implemented by software, a
program composing the software is installed in an information processing
apparatus. Such a program may be distributed by being recorded in a
removable medium such as a CD-ROM, and may be distributed by being
downloaded to an information processing apparatus through a network.

[0095] The functions of the alert analyzing apparatus 1 may be
decentralized in a plurality of information processing apparatuses. In
response to a request from a user's terminal connected through a network,
an input-output function may be provided to the terminal through
communication. In this case, comments are input from the terminal, and
are transmitted to the alert analyzing apparatus 1, and results of
various processing of alerts and comments are transmitted and output from
the alert analyzing apparatus 1 to the terminal.